Woman in custody for suspicious death

Son escapes police pursuit

The woman wanted in connection with the murder of a Columbia County man was arrested after a vehicle pursuit and a manhunt in Tennessee Thursday. The woman’s son remained at large Friday.

Mary Boswell

Mary Boswell, 47, was arrested Thursday evening by deputies from the Cumberland County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office in Crossville, near Chattanooga.

Boswell and her 29-year-old son Larry Craig Whitworth were driving the 2002 Chevrolet truck that belonged to Jerry Gifford, 59, who was found in a pond on his property Wednesday. The mother and her son had been living on Gifford’s property with him for about a month when Gifford disappeared.

Deputies with the Cumberland County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office spotted Gifford’s truck Thursday afternoon and attempted to pull it over, but the driver refused to stop. A pursuit lasted about five miles before the driver crashed the truck and Boswell and Whitworth ran into a nearby wooded area.

 

Larry Craig Whitworth

"We have two detectives from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and an investigator from the State Attorney’s Office in Tennessee," said Sheriff Bill Gootee. "Based on the information we have gathered so far, we will be seeking felony murder warrants."

Tennessee authorities tracked the two for several hours using K-9s and a helicopter. Boswell was taken into custody about 6 PM but Whitworth remained at large.

"Initially, Tennessee authorities believed the pair stayed together but after Ms. Boswell was arrested and questioned, they determined the two ran in different directions," said Sheriff Gootee. "The Tennessee authorities have pulled out all the stops to assist us in apprehending these two suspects."

Mr. Gifford was last seen alive by a family friend last week and a wallet belonging to him was turned into the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office early Wednesday morning after it was found on the side of US Highway 41.

A well being check to Mr. Gifford’s property by Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies found nothing suspicious. No one was home and no vehicles were in the area. A short time later, a neighbor called the Sheriff’s Office after he saw what he believed to be a body in a pond on the back of Mr. Gifford’s property. The pond is not visible from the road or the driveway.

"We are asking anyone with information – in Florida or Tennessee - to please call authorities. Through our Columbia County Crime Stoppers, you may be eligible for a cash reward," said Sheriff Gootee. "Mr. Whitworth may be armed and should be considered dangerous."

To report any information, please call:

Columbia County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Walt Douglas at 386-758-1095, the Columbia County Crime Stoppers at 386-754-7099 or the Cumberland County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office at 931-484-6176 Ext. 2069.